jikohr Posted June 24, 2022 Share Posted June 24, 2022 Hi everyone! I just got a claw in from the Hell Creek and I'm not entirely sure what it's from. I know it's not dinosaur, but I don't know how to tell the difference between turtle, crocodilian, and Champsosaurus (what does a Champsosaurus claw look like anyway, google didn't have any pictures) or even something else if there is a something else I'm not aware of. Locality is Powder River County, Montana. Length is 36 mm height is 15 mm width is 13 mm Any insight would be greatly appreciated as always! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted June 24, 2022 Share Posted June 24, 2022 My call is turtle 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted June 24, 2022 Share Posted June 24, 2022 The monograph on the osteology of Champsosaurus does not include the claws for either front and back limbs. They are pretty small and look non distinctive and the only image Ive seen is this poor one. Maybe someone has a closer one Erickson (1972) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jikohr Posted June 24, 2022 Author Share Posted June 24, 2022 26 minutes ago, Troodon said: My claw is turtle Wow, what a hand! Thanks man! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jikohr Posted June 24, 2022 Author Share Posted June 24, 2022 12 minutes ago, Troodon said: The monograph on the osteology of Champsosaurus does not include the claws for either front and back limbs. They are pretty small and look non distinctive and the only image Ive see is this poor one. Maybe someone has a closer one Erickson (1972) Really? Huh. So have Champsosaurus claws never been found or is this like a Deltadromeus situation with claws instead of teeth where there's a holotype skeleton without claws and isolated claws have been found that don't belong to anything else but no one's found them with bones like the holotype to say conclusively that they're Champ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doushantuo Posted June 24, 2022 Share Posted June 24, 2022 (edited) For those who are interested: lepidosaurian-reptile-champsosaurus.pdf Edited June 24, 2022 by doushantuo 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted June 24, 2022 Share Posted June 24, 2022 45 minutes ago, jikohr said: Really? Huh. So have Champsosaurus claws never been found or is this like a Deltadromeus situation with claws instead of teeth where there's a holotype skeleton without claws and isolated claws have been found that don't belong to anything else but no one's found them with bones like the holotype to say conclusively that they're Champ? They exist, they are pretty small and guess they easily lost in the fossilization process like the ones I showed on the monograph. The photo had two just no closeups.. Its not an element that would get focus and published on like a skull of Deltadromeus. My bet is they exist in museum assemblages but have yet to see any publication that contains closeups. Maybe the arm in the photo will get published. The focus on these dudes is the skull. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted June 24, 2022 Share Posted June 24, 2022 I am also in the turtle camp on this claw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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